Valve-actuating device



ime17,1930. E. T. TURNER 1,763,729

VALVE; ACTUATiNG DEVICE Filed Jan. 3, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q- EDWARD 7: TURNER.

Patented June 17, 1930 v titans z. EDWARD T... TURNER, on DAY ON-,QHI

* vnnvn-aorunrmei'nnvron Application filed January 3,

This invention relates to valve actuating. devices andis designed'more particularly for use "in connection with automatic Water softening apparatus such as that shown and v 5 described in'the application for patent filed by me February 25,1925, Serial No. 11,435.

That application relates to a Water softening apparatus of the type in Which the Wa ter is softenedbypassin'g it through a material having" the propertyi'of exchanging its normal base; for the substances which harden the Water." i 'After the softening substance has'taken up suchfquantities ofthe. Water hardening material that'it will" no longer properly soften the Water? it is reconditioned by subjecting it to the action of a salt solution which displacesthe Water hardening substances and restores the nor-' mal base of the softening 'material; "The valves which control the admission of salt solution to .the softener and the discharge V of the saltwaterfromv the softenerthrough the drain pipe are normally closed so that the hard Water'entering the'softener through v the supply" pipe Wlllb softened and-"discharged throughqthe service line; *After a predetermined quantity of Water has passed through thesoftener the drain valve and the salt valve are opened, thuspermitting salt 7 Water to pass throughthe softener and out a meter which is interposed'in the supply;

line and serves asa motorto drive the actuating devices. Water in different localities difiersin hardness and the harder the Water the more frequently it is necessary to recondition the softening material. ly the operation of the valves must be reg-I ulated according to the character of the 5 Water upon which the softeneris cooperate;-

' Washing operations Con'sequent- 1927. serial Iva-158,712..

One object of thepresent invention is to provide a valve actuating mechanism which can be readily adjusted to properly time the operation of the valves; g 1

A further-object of the invention is to provide a valvevoperating niechanismbomp'ris ing a trainof gears the ratio of Whichcan be quickl'yand easily changed to varythe speed at- WillCll'ijhG valve operating devices Will be driven and thus regulate the amount of Water Which pass through" the softener between successive reconditioning. OPQIEItlOIlS. w

A further object of the inventionis'to provide such valve operating mechanism having means for'varying'the length. of-

timethat the valves remain' op'en, thus vary- A further object of "the invention isto provide such a valve operating mechanism which can be operated independently of -the meter or other driving device to facilitate the a'djustment and testing of the mechanism' H ing' the length" of the reconditioning and Other objects of the invention will appear as the apparatus is described in detail:

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View taken centrally through a. valve 'actuatinginechanism emhodying my invention; Fi'gi Q" is avertical section taken on the 1ine'22 of Fig. 1;"Fig; 3' is a transverse section? taken on the line takenon the line of ig. 1, looking in the dlreotionofthe arrows"; Fig. 5 1s a trans- YSISG section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1,looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is asectiontaken on the line 66 of of Fig '1 looking inthe pdirection off the arroWs;.F1g.' tisa transverse section Fig. l,'looking i'nthe direction ofthe ar rows; Fig. ,7 is l 'asection" taken on i the line 7*? ofFig. v1, looking inthe directionof the arrows; and Fig. 8-is sectiontakenon the line 8-8 of Fig. 1, looking in the di-' rectionof the arrows.

In. these dravving's I have illustrated one embodiment of myinvention and have shown thesame as comprising a supporting structure consisti'ng'of a base 10 uponwhich is mounted a supporting frame which, together with the base, carries the several parts of the mechanism. The mechanism as a whole is enclosed in a casing 11, which is supported upon the base 10. The frame which is carried by the base 10 comprises a bottom plate or lower member 12 which rests upon the base and is rigidly secured thereto, as by means of screws 13. A plurality of standards 14 extend upwardly from the bottom plate 12 and support a top plate or upper member 15, the standards serving to rigidly connect the upper and lower members one to the other and to retain them in their properly spaced relation. Mounted on the top plate 15 and extending upwardly therefrom is a stud or bracket 16 which carries a transverse supporting member or plate 17 on which are mounted two valves 18 and 19, these valves being arranged on opposite sides of the center of the apparatus. Each valve comprises a casing having an inlet 20 and an outlet 21, and has mounted therein a valve member 22 which controls the communication between the inlet and the outlet and with which there is connected a reciprocating stem or valve rod 23 which extends downwardly through a stufiing box 24 in the lower end of the casing. In the present instance, the valves 18 and 19 are pilot valves which control the operation or the main valves but obviously these valves may be of such a size and character as to operate as mainvalves if desired. The valve rods or stems 23 extend through the top plate 15 of the frame and each is provided near its lower end with a stop or washer 25, between which and the lower surface of the top plate 15 is confined a spring 26 which serves to hold the valve normally in its closed position.

Depending from the lower side of the top plate 15 and, if desired, formed integral therewith, are brackets 27 having at their lower ends bearings 28 in which is journaled a shaft 29. Rigidly secured to this shaft 29 are valve actuating cams30 and 31 which act on the respective valve rods to open the valves at predetermined intervals. Each of the brackets 27 has a laterally extending projection 32 on which is pivoted an arm 33 the inner end of which is interposed between the cam and the end of the valve rod 23. The inner end of the arm is here shown as comprising a yoke or housing 34 the top wall of which contacts with the end of the adjacent valve rod and in which is mounted a roller 35 which contacts with the cam so that the movement of the cam is transmitted to the valve rod. In the present construction the valve actuating cams 30 and 31 are of such shape that the valve will be opened once upon each complete rotation of the cam and each has a single projection which actuates the arm 33 and the valve rod and remains in contact with the roller of the arm 33 for a comparatively short period of time. Pivotally mounted on the upper member 15 of the frame is a detent 36 having in its lower portion a recess which opens through the rear edge thereof and which is adapted to receive a pin 38 projecting from the arm 33, when the arm is in its elevated position, and thus retain the arm and the valve rod in their elevated positions, with the valve open. A spring acts on the detent and presses the lower portion thereof normally against the pin 38 when the arm 33 is in its lowermost position. Vhen the arm is elevated by the action of the cam the pin will be brought into line with the recess 37 and the spring will move the detent to cause the pin to enter the recess, thus causing the arm to be supported by the detent. Associated with each valve actuating cam is a tripping device or cam 39 having a part, such as a finger 40, to engage the detent and move the same out of engagement with the pin 38, thereby releasing the valve rod and permitting the same to be moved downwardly by the spring 26. This tripping cam is so arranged with relation to the valve actuating cam that the valve will remain open for the desired length of time. In order that this time may be varied the tripping cam is adjustable and, in the present instance, it is mounted on the shaft 29 and is clamped against the hub 41 of the adjacent valve actuating cam by means of a nut 42, which serves to rigidly secure the tripping cam in in its adjusted position with relation to the valve actuating cam. If desired, an indicator may be provided to facilitate the setting of the tripping cam and, as here shown, a dial 43 is rigidly secured to the hub of the valve actuating cam and has its peripheral portion graduated so that the finger of the tripping cam may be set in definite positions with relation thereto. These graduations may represent fixed intervals of time so that when the tripping finger is set on one of these graduations that graduation will indicate the length of time that the valve will remain open after it has been opened by the valve actuating cam.

The valve actuating cams and the tripping cams being both carried by the same shaft, 29, will be actuated from the same source of power and, in the device here illustrated, a worm wheel 44 is rigidly secured to the shaft 29 and meshes with a worm 45 carried by a stud shaft 46 which is journaled in a bracket or bearing plate 47 carried by two of the standards 14. This shaft has secured thereto, beneath the bearing plate 47, a gear 48, this gear being spaced a short distance above the bottom plate 12 of the frame. A shaft 49 is journaled in the bottom plate 12 and has secured to its upper end a pinion 50 which is spaced some dismeshes'with the pinion 5 0. In'order that theg'ear ratiomay bechanged, to vary the speed at whichthevalve actuating cams are rotated, the intermediate-pinion and gear,

' 51 and '52, are removably andadjustably mounted so that one set of intermediate gears may he -removed and another setof different ratio substituted therefor. A definite relationship ismaintained between the intermediate pinions 51' and intermediate gears 52 of'the several sets so that when an intermediate pinion of larger diameter. is employed the associated intermediate gear will be of smaller diameter,- thus by shifting the axis of the intermediate gearing with relation to the gear 48 and thepinion 55 -by means of whichthe intermediate unit consisting of' the supporting member, shaft gear and pinion, maybe rigidly secured to the bottom plate. the complete unit may be removed and another unit substituted therefor. When a unit is placed upon the supporting structure and engaged with thejscrew 55 the axis of the shaft 153 is so positioned with relation to the axes of the gear 4 8 and pinion 5.0 that the intermediate pinion and gear.

By loosening the screw will mesh respectively with thegear 18 and pinion 5 0 and thescrew is then tightened.

down to rigidly secure the unit in that position. The shaft 49 which carries the pinion 50 has secured thereto, beneath the bottom plate 12, a gear 57 which meshes with a pinion 58 on a shaft 59 journaled'" in the base 10 and adapted to be connected with asuitable source of power, such as the meter.

. The adjustment of'the gear ratioand of the tripping cam is'usual'ly madepmor to the installation of the softening apparatus, to accommodate the same tothe character of the water with which it is to be used, and when these adjustments are made at the factory the present construction has a very great advantage as it enables the proper adjustments to 'bemade with but little effort and by the substitution of but few parts;-

When the adjustments are being made, and more particularly wheat-hey are belng made after the softening apparatus has been 1nstalled, it is necessary to make various tests 7 to determine the accuracy of the adjustments. If the workman is obliged to wait between eachtest for. the valve aactuating V cam to make a completetrotatiomrby operation of themeter, a very great deal ofwater and time willbewasted' and the adjustments rendered much more 'difficult'b It is there fore desirable that :the valve. actuating mechanism should be of such a character that it can be operated byhand, thus quickly rotating thevalveactuating cams through that portion of their rotation which represents the softening operation, and causing the valves to be opened. Then the valves have been opened the timing of the tripping device can" be 'easily determined. In the 1 presentfdevice, the shaft 59 has at its lower end a head 60 which is'adapted to extend into a socket 61 carriedby a shaft '62 which is connected with the driving mechanism,

preferably, a meter. The head 60 and socket 61 have interlocking parts to cause them to rotate in unison. The head 60 howevenis rotatahly mountedon the shaft 59 and has mounted thereon a pawl carrier 63-onwhich is supported a pawl 64: which engages a ratchet wheel 65 rigidly secured to :the shaft 59, so that therotation of'the ahead 60:will'be transmitted to the shaft 59- when the head.

is rotated in a forward direction, but. the

shaft 59 can be rotatedforwardly'indepen driving member 62. Means are also provided for manually actuating the mechanism and, in the present device, the "shaft 46 of the worm 45 has at :itsuppercend a squared head 66 adapted to receive a socket on the lower end of, an operating rod 67 which may 7 be inserted in the casing through an opening 68 in the top 'wall thereof and which is provided at its upper end with a handle 69;

The operation of the mechanism will be readily understood from the foregoing de-' scription and it'willbeapparent that by the substitution of one intermediate gear unit foranother a'wide variation in the speed at which the actuating cams.- are driven maybe secured and after the proper speed of op ertion has been determined the interval of time during whichthe valves will remain open may be determined by adjusting the tripping cams. By engaging the actuating 'rod 67 with the worm shaft the valve actuating mechanism may be manually operated art.

" Having now fully described my invention,

'dently of the head 60 and of theshaft or said stem and acting thereon to move said valve member to its open position, a detent to retain said valve member in its open posi tion, a tripping device to move said detent to an inoperative position and release said valve member, and means comprising a gear train for operatively connecting said driving member with said cam and said tripping device.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, an upright supporting structure, a

driving shaft mounted in the lower portion of said frame on a vertical axis, a valve mounted on the upper portion of said frame and comprising a movable valve member having a downwardly extending valve stem, a spring to close said valve, a transverse shaft mounted beneath said valve stem, a cam mounted on said shaft and arranged to act on said stem to move said valve member to its open position a detent to retain said valve member in its open position, a tripping cam mounted on said shaft and ar ranged to move said detent to an inoperative position, a vertical shaft, means to operatively connect said vertical shaft with said transverse shaft, and a geared connection between said vertical shaft and said driving shaft.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a valve comprising a movable member and a stem therefor, of an actuating cam, a pivoted arm having its free end interposed between said cam and said valve stem, a projection carried by said arm, a detent movable into and out of engagement with said projection, a tripping cam rigidly secured to said valve actuating cam and arranged to engage said detent and move the same out of engagement with said projection, and means for rotating said cams.

4. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a valve comprising a movable member and a stem therefor, of an actuating cam spaced from the end of said stem, a pivoted arm having its free end arranged between said cam and said stem and provided with a housing, the top wall of which engages the end of said stem, a roller mounted in said housing and engaging said cam, a pin carried by said arm, a detent arranged to engage said pin when said arm is in its elevated position, a tripping cam rigidly but adjustably connected with said actuating cam and arranged to move said detent out of engagement with said pin, and means for rotating said cams.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, a driving member, a valve to be opened and closed at intervals determined by the movement of said driving member, an actuating device driven by said driving member to open said valve, means to vary the speed at which said actuating device is moved by said driving member, a detent to retain said valve in its open position, and a device operated by said actuating device to move said detent into an inoperative position,

6. In the mechanism of the character described, a driving member, a valve to be opened and closed at intervals determined by the movement of said driving member, an actuating device driven by said driving member to open said valve and comprising a gear train having a removable gear unit and means for adjustably supporting said gear unit with relation to the cooperating parts of said gear train, to enable the speed at which said actuating device is operated to be varied by changing the ratio of said gear train, a detent to retain said valve in its open position, and a device operated by said actuating device to move said detent into an inoperative position.

7. I11 a mechanism of the character (16-, scribed, a driving member, a valve com prising a movable member, a shaft, a cam mounted on said shaft and acting on said valve member to move the same to its open position, a detent to retain said valve member in its open position, a tripping cam mounted on said shaft and arranged to move said detent to an inoperative position, a gear train operatively connected with said shaft and comprising an intermediate gear unit removably and adjustably supported with relation to said gear train to enable the speed of rotation of said shaft to be varied by changing the ratio of said gear train, and means for securing the tripping cam by said shaft in adjusted positions about the axis thereof to vary the time that said valve member remains in its open position.

8. In a mechanism of the character described, a driving member, a valve to be opened and closed at intervals determined by the movement of said driving member, a valve actuating device comprising a gear, means for operatively connecting said gear with said valve, a pinion mounted in spaced relation to said gear, means for connecting said pinion with said driving member, an intermediate pinion adapted to mesh with said gear, an intermediate gear connected with said intermediate pinion and adapted to mesh with the first mentioned pinion, and means for removably supporting said intermediate pinion and gear in operativerelation to said. first mentioned gear and pinion. 9. In a mechanism of the character described, adriving member, a valve to be opened and closed at intervals determined bythe movement-of said driving member, a valve actuating device comprising a gear,

7 means for operatively connecting said gear with said valve, a pinion mounted in spaced relation to sa1d gear, means for connecting said pinion with said driving member, an

intermediate pinion adapted to mesh with said gear, an intermediate gear connected with said intermediate pinion and adapted to mesh with the first 'mentioned pinion, and means for removably supporting said intermediate pinion and gear in operative relation to the first mentioned gear and pinion, said supporting means being adjustable with relation to the axes ofisaid first mentioned gear and pinion. V

10. In a mechanism of the character described, a supporting structure, a driving member, a valve to be opened and closed at intervals determined by the movement of said driving member, a valve actuatingrdevice mounted on said supporting structure and comprising a gear, means for operatively connecting said gear with said valve,

a pinion spacedfrom said gear, means for connecting said plmon wlth sa1d driving member, an intermediate p1n1on adapted to mesh with said gear, an intermediate gear connectedwith said intermediate pinion and adapted to mesh with the first mentioned pinion, and a supporting device for said intermediate pinion and gear movably mounted on said supporting structure. '11. In a mechanism of the character described, a supporting'structure, a driving.

, member, a valve to be opened and closed at intervals determined by the movement of said driving member, a valve actuating device mounted on said supporting structure and comprising a gear, means for operatively connecting said gear with said valve, a pinion spaced from said; gear, means for connecting said pinion withsaid driving member, a shaft mounted onsaid supporting structure between said gear and said pinion, and adjustable to shift the position of its axis with relation to said gear and said pinion, and an intermediate pinion and gear mounted on said shaft, connected one with the other and meshing" respectively with the first mentioned gearand pinion,

12. In a mechanism of the character de f scribed, a supporting structure, a driving member, a' valve to be opened and closed at intervals determined by the movement ofsaid driving member, a {valve actuat ng device mounted on sa1d 'supportmg structure and necting said pinion with said driving member, and a removable gear unit having means for mounting the sameon said supporting structure in different positions with relation to said gear and said pinion and comprising a pinion and a gear connected one with the other and adapted to mesh respectively with the firstmentioned gear and pinion.

13. In a mechanism of the character. de-

scribed, a supporting structure, a driving member, a valve to be opened and closed at intervals determined bythe movement of said driving member, a valve actuating device mounted on said supporting structure and comprising a gear, means for operatively connecting said gear and said valve, a

pinion spaced from said gear, means for" connecting said pinion with said driving member, a supporting member, a shaft carried by said supporting member, means for a gear train to actuate said valve, and an overrunnlng clutch connecting sa1d gear train with said driving member, to permit said gear train to be operated ata speed in excess of' the speed at which said driving member is operated. h Y

15. In a mechanism of the character de scribed, a driving member, a valve .tobe opened and closed at intervals determined vby thecontinuous'movement of said driving member m a forward direction, an actuating device for said valve having relatively adjustable parts to control the opening andclosing of said valve and comprising a gear train, means for manually operating said gear tram to actuate sa1d valve, and an overrunmng clutch interposed between sa1d gear train and said driving member to permit said'actuating device to be manually operated independently of said driving member to determinethe proper relative positions of said adjustable parts.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto. j I i EDWARD TQ TURNER.

comprising a gear, means for operatively connecting said gear-withsaid valve, a pinion spaced from said gear, means for con-j I i 

